Adjustable tray having glass retaining means



Nov. 8, 1955 J. G. MATESIC 2,723,037

ADJUSTABLE TRAY HAVING GLASS RETAINING MEANS Filed July 16, 1953 John 6. Mares/c INVENTOR.

2,723,037 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 United States Patent Ofifice 2,723,037 ADJUSTABLE TRAY HAVING GLASS RETAINING MEANS John G. Matesic, Slovan, Pa.

Application July 16, 1953, Serial No. 368,262

2 Claims. (Cl. 211-74) This. invention relates in general tov improvements in table construction, and, more specifically, to an adjustable table for use on ones lap.

Since the forthcoming of television, it has become a national habit to eat meals either in the living room or den or other place where a television set is placed with the necessity that the food being eaten must be seated on ones lap. Inasmuch as it is difiicult to retain glass and other dishes in upright positions, while at the same time paying attention to television and eating, it is necessary that there be provided a suitable table which may be utilized in the supporting of glass and dishes while eating during the viewing of television.

It is, therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved lap table which may be conveniently seated on ones lap and which has a top which is adjustable with respect to an associated base whereby the top may be retained horizontally at all times regardless of the slight variance of the base from the horizontal due to the manner in which it is held in ones lap.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved lap table which includes a base having supported thereabove a top for the reception of glass and dishes, the top being spaced from the base a suitable distance whereby glasses may be passed through openings therein so as to prevent the turning of such glasses.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved table construction which includes an opening therethrough for the reception of a glass, the opening having associated therewith depending fingers which underly the table in alignment with the opening for the reception of a glass, the fingers being adapted to supportingly engage a glass and be resilient so as to accommodate various sizes of glasses.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lap table which is the subject of this invention and shows the general outline of the same;

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 and shows the top of the table in an elevated position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the table of Figure 1 and shows the general arrangement of glass and dish receiving openings therein; and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 1 and shows the general cross-section of the table and the manner in which the top is selectively supported at an angle to the base thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the adjustable lap table which is the subject of this invention, the table being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The table 10 includes a fiat supporting base 12 which is preferably rectangular in outline. Carried by the base 12 and extend ing upwardly therefrom adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof is an elongated vertical member 14. Overlying the base 12 in spaced relation thereto is a top wall 16. The top wall 16 is secured on its underside to the vertical member 14 by spaced hinges 18 so as to be adjustable relative to the base 12.

In order that the top wall 16 may be selectively positioned at angles to the supporting base 12, there is hingedly secured to the supporting base adjacent the edge thereof opposite from the edge adjacent which the vertical member 14 ismounted, a support member 20. The support member 26). is hingedly connected at its lower edge to the upper surface of the supporting base 12 by spaced hinges 22. The supporting member 20 is provided with a bevelled upper edge 24 which is best illustrated in Figure 2.

In order that the supporting member 20 may be utilized in the selective positioning of the top wall 16 relative to the supporting base 12, there is secured to the underside of the top wall 16 in spaced parallel relation a pair of racks 26. The racks 26 are provided with a plurality of spaced notches 28 in which is selectively received the bevelled upper edge of the supporting edge 20. It will be obvious that when the bevelled upper edge 24 is moved from one notch 28 to the other, the angle of the top wall 16 relative to the supporting base 12 will be varied.

In order that glasses may be conveniently received by the top wall 16 and suspended therefrom without engaging the supporting base 12, the top wall 16 is provided with glass receiving openings 30. Secured to the underside of the top wall 16 adjacent each of the glass receiving openings 30 is a plurality of circumferentially spaced Z-shaped depending fingers 32. The depending fingers have the lower portions thereof underlying the opening 30 with which they are associated and their lower flanges 34 extend inwardly toward each other to receive the bottom of the glass. The fingers 32 are formed out of resilient material so as to receive glasses of various diameters.

It will be noted that the top wall 16 is also provided with an opening 36 therethrough. The opening 36 is adapted to receive saucers or ashtrays or any other form of receptacle which it is desirous of preventing sliding relative to the top wall 16. While the glass receiving openings 30 are intended primarily for the reception of glasses,

it will be understood that they may receive dishes or other receptacles in the same manner as the opening 36.

In order to prevent sliding of the table 10 relative to ones lap or other supporting surface, the supporting base 12 is provided with elongated strips of felt 38 which extend longitudinally of the supporting base 12 on the underside thereof. The top side of the top wall 16 is also provided with longitudinally extending elongated strips of felt 40.

While the part referred to by the reference numeral 12 has been specifically set forth as being a supporting base and the part referred to by the reference numeral 16 has been specifically referred to as a top wall, it will be understood that if a table having a flat upper surface without any dish or glass receiving openings therein is desired, for purposes such as writing, etc., the relationship of these two parts may be reversed. It will be seen that the adjustable lap table 10 is not limitedfor the reception of glasses and the like.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tray for glasses and the like comprising a flat surface forming Wall, at least one glass receiving opening in said wall, said wall having an underside, a plurality of glass engaging fingers, each of said fingers being Z-shaped in outline and including an upper mounting flange, a sloping body portion and a lower glass supporting flange, said fingers being resilient and secured to the under surface of said wall in circumferential relation about said opening, said upper flanges engaging said wall, and said body portions and said lower flanges being aligned with said openings, said lower flanges being initially disposed closely adjacent each other.

2. A tray comprising a fiat base having spaced opposed edges, 21 fixed vertical member extending upwardly from said base adjacent one of said edges, a top hingedly secured to said vertical member in overlying relation to said base, a rack secured to said top on the underside thereof remote from said vertical member and generally normal to said edges, a support member hingedly carried by said base 7;

adjacent the other of said edges, said support member being selectively engageable with said rack to retain said top Wall at a selective incline towards said base, a glass 4 receiving opening in said top adjacent said vertical member, depending glass engaging means aligned with said glass receiving opening and secured to said top in depending relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 254,806 Dewe Mar. 14, 1882 289,394 Danner Dec. 4, 1883 646,084 Thompson Mar. 27, 1900 706,228 Fleming Aug. 5, 1902 905,836 Bowman Dec. 8, 1908 1,043,622 Miles Nov. 5, 1912 1,056,237 Waller Mar. 18, 1913 1,178,572 Burbey Apr. 11, 1916 1,468,563 Girard Sept. 18, 1923 2,419,040 Stepanian Apr. 15, 1947 2,471,003 Monahan May 24, 1949 2,489,553 Wofiord Nov. 29, 1949 2,601,571 Sverkerson June 24, 1952 2,646,330 Swainbank July 21, 1953 2,695,712 Kolander Nov. 30, 1954 ,2 any. 

